Three Fights Added to UFC 89: Bisping vs Leben

The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) has added three thrilling bouts to the organisation’s next UK super-show. It has been confirmed that Rameau Sokoudjou will collide with Luiz Cane in a battle of light-heavyweight strikers, Japanese submission expert Akihiro Gono will take on on highly-regarded British debutant Dan Hardy and steel-fisted heavyweight Shane Carwin will exchange bombs with England’s own Neil Wain.

LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL INDOOR ARENA, BIRMINGHAM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008

Only 2500 tickets remain!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) has added three thrilling bouts to the organisation’s next UK super-show. It has been confirmed that Rameau Sokoudjou will collide with Luiz Cane in a battle of light-heavyweight strikers, Japanese submission expert Akihiro Gono will take on on highly-regarded British debutant Dan Hardy and steel-fisted heavyweight Shane Carwin will exchange bombs with England’s own Neil Wain.

These three mouth-watering match-ups join the hotly anticipated main event of Michael ‘the Count’ Bisping v Chris ‘the Crippler’ Leben in the UFC’s third British show of 2008, which emanates from the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, on October 18.

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said: “Fight for fight, UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN is already shaping up to be one of the best events of the whole year. There aren’t too many fights which you could place on a card headlined by Bisping v Leben and still expect that fight to have a chance of being fight of the night still. But Sokoudjou v Cane is one of those fights which - like our main event - you can practically guarantee is going to be a thriller.”

Zelaznik added: “We are also announcing that England’s Dan Hardy, who makes his UFC debut in his native Midlands, will match up with PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono in what hardcore fans will know is a fantastic welterweight fight between two very innovative mixed martial artists.

“Plus, British fans will get a chance to see one of the most exciting heavyweight talents in the world, Shane Carwin, lock horns with Neil Wain, who brings his own unbeaten record to the UFC.”

Tickets for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN are priced £40, £50, £75, £125 and £225 and available from http://ticketfactory.co.uk or by calling 0871945 6000. Only 2000 seats remain for the NIA Arena.

After stumbling in his UFC debut last December, the man many know simply as “Sokoudjou” returned to his devastating best when he wiped out Kazuhiro Nakamura in one round at UFC 84 in May. Now, the 24-year-old Cameroon born “African Assassin” looks to continue in the form which made his the scourge of the PRIDE light heavyweight division.

The 5-2 puncher said: “Cane is a very good puncher and is aggressive like me. This could be the fight of the night but I am looking to build my UFC knockout streak. I fought once in Japan but this is the first time I am going to be fighting in Europe, and I am looking forward to really putting on an exciting fight for all the fans there. This a fight I am really looking forward to.”

Boasting a 9-1, 1 NC record and coming off a hugely impressive KO victory over Jason Lambert at UFC 85 in London, Luiz Cane returns to the UK for the second time in four months on a quest for the biggest win in his career.

He said: “I am very aware of the opportunity in front of me. I realise that success in MMA is judged not only by fighting in the UFC, but by who you are fighting and where and I want to thank (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, Dana White and the UFC for trusting my skills. It is a great honour to fight a top 10 fighter and I will pay the UFC back by being in the best shape of my life, by being on the top of my game and by not only winning but winning a great fight. Make no mistake, I will be ready for Sokoudjou.”

Further exciting matches for UFC 89: BISPING v LEBEN will be announced shortly.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the UFC® organization produces approximately twelve to fourteen live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are distributed throughout the world including broadcast on MAIN EVENT in Australia, Globosat in Brazil and Setanta Sports in the United Kingdom. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit www.ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or www.ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

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